by Rick Brown
“Not really,” Bri answered. “Lee is Lee, no matter where you put him. It was strange seeing King Kendrick being so friendly with someone that could just as easily have been a palace guard. Still, Lee rewarded him over and over again. Saved Kendrick’s life twice.”
“It’s amazing, the stories you have. Sneaking into that brothel, being saved by a god, living in the palace, and you’re so young!”
“You’re younger than me,” she reminded. “You’ve had a magical battle in a mining town, spent two weeks exploring tunnels under the mountains with a King, a dwarf, and an elf. And now you are staying in an elven city that hasn’t seen a human in three hundred years, all in about a month’s time.”
I smiled. “Well, I guess there’s that.”
We were interrupted by a knock at the door. “Bri?” Barad asked.
“DON’T COME IN!” we both shouted.
“Barad, go get Abi’s and my bags. We’re changing.”
“Ok, hold on,” He shouted back as we heard him going back down the stairs.
“Ah well,” Bri Muttered as she felt around for the leather plug. “Couldn’t last forever. At least I’m clean.” Getting up she grabbed a towel and dried off. Can I use that brush when you’re done?” I nodded and sat it down on the desk, getting up so she could take the seat. “All yours.”
There was another knock at the door. This time Bri got up and opened it just wide enough to pull the bags through. “Hey! You had a bath,” Barad said accusingly. “No one thought to tell us there was a bath ready?”
“It wasn’t ready,” Brianna explained through the door. “We filled it ourselves.”
“Well I’m next!” he declared.
Brianna handed me my bag, and I looked through it trying to find my least dirty clothes.
“This is so depressing,” Bri stated as she sniffed at her shirt. “Having to put these on just after getting clean.”
I nodded back to her, as I pulled on a blouse that had streaks of mud on it. “Next, we do laundry.” As I pulled on my boots, I could hear Barad talking to someone outside of our door.”
“Hold on a moment,” Bri yelled out. “We’re almost done.”
“Something happened to Lee at the hospital” Barad called out. “We gotta go.”
Bri and I looked at each other in concern, then quickly pulled on our boots and rushed to meet Barad at the door.
Lee looked so weak as he lay in the bed. The doctors explained that they couldn’t find anything wrong with him. He had helped heal an injured elf, and then collapsed.
I sat on the side of the bed and held Lee’s calloused hand as I wished for him to awaken. His dark hair still dirty and matted from our journey through the caverns. Reaching up I carefully flicked away some of the dirt off his forehead.
“You knew what would happen!” Barad accused, as he yelled at Farloc. “You should have stopped him!”
“I’m sorry,” Farloc quietly apologized. “In fear of losing my friend, I put the King’s life in danger. I should resign as ambassador.”
“You aren’t getting rid of us that easily,” Bri said shaking her head. She turned to Barad. “It was Lee who chose to help. All the doctors said so. Don’t blame Farloc.”
“I don’t understand, do you know what’s wrong with him?” I asked.
Bri nodded and sat next to me. “It’s happened twice before. Apparently, Lee’s magic comes from within him. If he uses it all, then his body doesn’t have enough energy left to keep going. He just collapses.”
“So, he gets better? How long does it take?”
“Well, if history repeats itself, about a week,” Ryan answered.
Barad sighed. “Alright, who wants the first night with the patient?”
“I’ll take it!” I immediately called out. The others turned to look at me.
“Oh. I mean, I’ve already had a bath and all. I might as well be first,” I quickly explained, blushing at my abrupt volunteering.
“Sounds good to me,” Barad said, oblivious to my embarrassment. “Let’s check on Orlik, then go get cleaned up.”
Father Yagen walked over, patting my shoulder, “Don’t worry girl, it’s just exhaustion. Our poor King will be fine. If anything happens, send word to us immediately.”
I nodded in agreement back to him and he followed the rest of them from the room.
After everyone left, I settled down into the chair next to the bed. As I was just starting to relax, an elf walked into the room. At first, he looked shocked that I was there. Then took he a breath and walked over to the bed.
“Can I help you,” I asked.
He just ignored me and as he kept staring at Lee. I leaned over Lee’s body, trying to protect him from the harsh gaze. Looking at the elf, he was much older than the others I had seen. He was bald on top of his head with just some hair around the back. His angry gaze never leaving Lee.
“Are you a doctor?” I asked. He finally looked at me. With a frustrated expression, he turned and walked out the door.
Just as he left, a female elf came in smiling at me. “Hello, how is our hero?”
“Excuse me, who was that?” I asked pointing at the door.
The doctor turned to look. “That? That’s Councilor Belkor. Your King saved his son’s life today.”
“Lee?” I asked still staring at the door, trying to puzzle out the odd meeting.
“Yes. The councilor’s son was injured in a fight with the Dommerians. It was a nasty stomach wound. We were about to give up hope of saving him, when King Eberon arrived. I sat there and watch with my own eyes as he healed the dwarf. It’s my fault, I’m afraid. I practically demanded that he heal Zarcharus. I wasn’t aware of the limitations to his magic.”
“So, how are Orlik and Zarcharus?” I asked.
“Orlik is well, he even woke briefly. We gave him a drink to help sleep. His body still has much healing to do.
“Zarcharus will also live. We were all shocked by what King Eberon accomplished. Most of us were not alive when Alsselya fell. The rumors of their powerful magic appear to be true.”
“So it would seem,” I agreed, as I turned back to Lee. Once again, I reached up to brush his dirty hair from his face.
“Would you like some water and a towel to clean him up?” She asked.
I smiled, “Yes please.”
Chapter 24
(Lee)
My eyes fluttered open to find myself in a strange room. Not again, I thought to myself. At least this time my eyes didn’t hurt. Looking around the room, I realized I was still in the hospital at Illiner. Memories of what happened flashed through my mind. Hopefully the elf I treated survived.
Easing up on one elbow I was able to look around. Looking through the shutters, I could tell it was night outside. I wonder what day it is this time. My habit of sleeping for a week after overexerting myself was getting inconvenient.
“Lee!” Abigail screamed from behind me, almost scaring me back into a coma. She grabbed me in a hug from behind before I could even turn around. “They said you wouldn’t wake up for a week.”
All too soon she released me and sat back in her chair. I adjusted in my bed to face her. “Hi Abi. What day is it?”
“Same day. Well, maybe. It’s late at night now. Still, it’s only been a few hours,” She answered with a smile.
“So, no week lost? Thank the gods. We didn’t race here through the caverns just so I could hibernate through winter.”
“Just a sec, I have to tell the doctors, and send word to Father Yagen that you’re awake.”
She ran to the door and stuck her head out briefly to call one of the elves out in the hall. I caught myself staring at her and quickly looked away before I was caught. Abi and I were in a strange place and I really had no idea if she had any feelings for me.
After a moment she returned and sat on the side of my bed. “So, how do you feel?” She asked as she sat.
“It isn’t bad. Not like before. I’ll be up again by morning.”
> “We’ll see about that,” Doctor Yorlin stated as she walked through the door. “You gave us quite a scare, Your Majesty.”
“Hello Doctor. How is the elf?”
“Zarcharus is alive, thanks to you.”
“And Orlik?”
“He’s even better. We have to keep him drugged for the safety of the nurses,” she said with a smile. “Now, I want to know about this patient. Are you a wild man too? Do we need to drug you for this lady’s safety?”
I glanced at Abigail. “You might,” I said with a smile. Abigail blushed and looked away.
“Well, whatever it takes to make you well,” The doctor’s expression turned serious. “I am truly sorry. I didn’t know that I was putting your life in danger.”
“It wasn’t your decision, doctor. I made my choice. I’m just glad everyone survived. I’ve been planning to study anatomy, so I don’t accidentally kill someone.”
“Well, maybe I can repay you for what you did last night. I certainly owe you a debt. Now that we are snowed in, there is no risk of our warriors being injured. I can teach you, so that you know the basics.”
“Then I accept. I’ve already learned much just working on Orlik and your elf friend.”
“Zarcharus,” Doctor Yorlin reminded.
“Zarcharus,” I repeated.
“Very good, but tonight you need rest. I’ll leave you two to sleep. I’ll check on you in the morning,” She said as she turned to the door, “Good night.”
I looked down to Abigail, who had already fallen asleep on the foot of the bed while the doctor and I were talking. I grabbed some of my blanket covered her the best I could. Lying back in my bed, I was quickly asleep.
“Lee, you’ve got to stop doing this to me,” Barad berated. “Whilhoit and I are here to protect you, but we can’t do that if you keep doing things like this.”
“Once again, I didn’t mean to scare anybody. If I had not stepped in, Zarcharus would have died,” I replied, sitting up in the bed.
“And I am forever in your debt for doing so,” Farloc interrupted. “Zarcharus was my childhood friend. The doctors had just told us there was nothing they could do.”
“And as for you, you’ll pay that debt by remaining our ambassador. Why does everyone think they are responsible for what I do?” I asked. I had just had breakfast when everyone came into the room. Abigail had moved back to her chair sometime during the night. When they arrived, she excused herself back to the tower.
“We are all responsible for you,” Father Yagen reminded.
“Perks of royalty?” I said with a frown.
“Something like that,” the priest replied with a smile. “Another perk is we take care of you,” he said as he held out a wooden walking cane. “We found this in the tower.”
“Now that, I can use,” I said as I accepted the cane. Sliding my legs over the side of the bed, I hopped off. Just a slight wobble as I found my balance, then I smiled triumphantly to my friends and I started to walk.”
“Isn’t it a little soon?” Bri asked worriedly.
“Did you really think we were going to keep him in that bed?” Whilhoit countered.
“You were not,” I answered. “Let’s go check on Orlik.”
I gingerly made my way down the hall, it was harder than I anticipated, but I wasn’t going to let on after the fuss I made in my room. Luckily, Orlik was just across the hall from me.
“Haven’t ya got any real meat in this blasted place?” He was yelling as we entered the room. “How the hells do you grow so tall on broth?”
“Good morning, Orlik,” I greeted as I entered the room. “It’s good to see you awake.”
“Thanks to you, I hear. Nice to know that magic is good for somethin’. Don’t suppose it can conjure some bacon and eggs?”
“The Doctor said just broth,” the woman carrying a tray of soup stated.
“Well, the doctor ain’t here, is she?” Orlik argued. “Dwarves don’t eat no water, we eat meat!”
“I eat meat. They eat meat,” the elf stated as she pointed to us, “you eat broth!”
“Woman, don’t try me,” the dwarf warned. “We dwarves aren’t above eating elf.”
“Your threats are empty if you can’t get out of bed,” she continued to argue. “You eat broth!” With that she sat down his tray and left.
“Making friends, Orlik?” Bri asked.
“Friends don’t give friends broth!” he replied stubbornly.
I casually made my way over the chair and sat next to his bed. In reality, I would have fallen over if I remained standing. Why don’t I ever listen and just stay in bed? I wondered.
I leaned towards Orlik. “You mind if I do a quick magical examination?”
Orlik shrugged, pouting as he took a sip of broth.
“Careful, Lee,” Barad warned.
“No healing,” I promised. “I just want to check.”
Setting my hand on his chest, I released my magic. This time I knew what I was looking for. The bone already looked better. It was healing on its own. The lung looked like it was never damaged. I checked the other ribs. Though there were some fractures, they were not broken and appeared to be healing. I withdrew my magic and relaxed. Feeling better now that I checked on my friend.
“Everything is healing,” I announced. “You still have some rib fractures, but they already look better without me doing anything.”
Orlik nodded. “I feel fine. I feel like I could take on that troll again and beat it this time,” he glanced at his half eaten broth. “And then eat it.”
“We’ll order you troll for dinner,” Barad promised.
“I’ll take steaks iffin’ they don’t have troll,” Orlik requested.
“We’ll see what we can do,” I told him.
“So here you are,” Doctor Yorlin stated as she walked into the room. “You were supposed to be on bed rest.”
“It’s his fault,” I said pointing to Father Yagen with my new cane. “He gave me this.”
Father Yagen went wide-eyed as the guilt fell on him. The doctor gave him a sidelong glance, and then turned to me. “So, I guess you are here doing my job? What did you see?”
“The lung looks like it was never injured. The broken rib is healing. The others have fractures, but I believe they are healing on their own.”
“And they will, so long as the patient stays in bed,” She said to Orlik.
“Can I get some meat then?”
The doctor sighed. “You bunch are going to be the death of me. Yes, yes, since your lung’s looking better, you may have some eggs. I’ll have some sent in.”
“Any way ya can send the chicken too?”
The doctor groaned and turned to me, “That part about staying in bed applies to you as well. Enough adventuring for you this morning, now back to your bed. The rest of you return to your tower. I’ll let you know when to return.”
The group said their goodbyes to Orlik and myself and left. The doctor then turned to me. “You may have them fooled, but I can see a man on the verge of collapse. Just a moment and I’ll get you someone to help you back.”
“Bless you,” I said, as I was about to fall asleep in the chair.
An elf came in and half guided, half carried me back to my room. I was asleep before he left the room.
I slept the rest of that day and the night clear through. I woke to find Abi had snuck back in sometime overnight.
“How did you get past Doctor Yorlin?” I asked.
“We talked a lot during that first night you were unconscious. She’s actually very nice.”
“I agree, but I didn’t think she’d let anyone else in after she kicked the rest out yesterday.”
“Well that’s everyone else, not me,” she said with a smile.
“How’s Orlik?” I asked.
“Good, they are sending him to the tower today. I think they just want to get rid of him.”
“How is the tower? I haven’t even had a chance to go up the stairs yet.”
Abigail’s face lit up. “Oh, it’s wonderful! They have a tub with a pump, so you don’t have to fetch water. The rooms are small, but comfortable. Everyone’s really happy.”
“Good, I look forward to returning. Hopefully tonight.”
“Lee, don’t push it,” she warned.
“Relax. Orlik had real injures, and he’s getting to go home. I’m just tired. And right now, I’m tired of this bed,” I said as I started to get up.
“What are you doing?” Abigail demanded.
“I have another patient to look in on. One I haven’t checked since I went unconscious.”
“Wait, let me help you,” she said as she ran around the bed. Squeezing under my arm she helped hold me up.
With my cane in one hand, and Abigail under my other arm, we made our way down the hall to the Zarcharus’ room. The door was open, so we peered inside. Farloc was sitting in the chair next to the bed. The injured elf was awake and looked to the door as we came in.
“Hello! I just wanted to come by and see if you are ok.”
At first the elf replied in his native tongue, of which I understood little. Farloc said something to him and the elf nodded in understanding.
“Your Majesty. Please come in, I was hoping to have an opportunity to thank you before you were discharged,” Zarcharus said in human.
Farloc stood and let me take his chair. Abi helped sit me down. Today I was feeling much better than yesterday, but it was still tiring just getting around.
“May I use my magic to check your injury?”
Zarcharus nodded, so I rested my hand on his chest. Once again, I descended into the confusing mass of intestines. I mentally followed the same route I had previously. Looking for anything I might have missed the first time. One of the spots I had healed still had a red, irritated look to it. Applying a little magic, I pictured it matching the neighboring flesh. Soon it all looked the same. I continued checking until I had searched the entire injured area.
Pulling back, I gave him a smile. “I think everything looks good. You’ll be out killing Dommerians in no time.”
Zarcharus took on a pained expression. “That is good. The rest of my unit was captured by the Dommerians. I swear they will be freed.”